Christine Willmot, Sunrise Beach
David Heilpern, you are not the only grumpy old person who finds the restaurant experience in Byron a challenge to sanity and communication – not to say to inner-ear safety!
My friends and I have almost given up trying to find a venue conducive to both enjoyable eating and conversation. Even when we go to a restaurant in the ‘oldies’ hour’ – 5.30 to 6.30 – we often find that the management turn up the volume in the speaker right above our table to welcome us and take umbrage if we dare to complain!
‘But this is a restaurant!’ we are told, ‘we have to have music!’ I wondered, whatever happened to ambient music, like lounge, or cool jazz improvising away softly in the background, which actually did enhance a dining experience?
For a time, I thought that the ‘music’ and the playlists were there to keep the young kitchen staff happy and upbeat, and I discussed the idea of starting a campaign to get restaurants to have an ‘Oldies Happy Hour’ as you suggest. But an internet search finds that this is a lost cause – the ‘music’ and its volume is not solely a staff choice but scientifically designed to turn over bums on seats – yikes! We do live in Greed City, it’s true!
Oh dear, the idle rich having a little cry. How sad.